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Kowloon Trades Union Council have been able to work to- gether and negotiate with employers.
While changes in this sector may be slower, it should not be forgotten that in some countries similar situ- ations have ended in trade unions opposed on ideological basis working together, sometimes on a limited scale, but in many cases on a wide range of matters.
The Shop Floor
So far, we have been concerned with the national scene. It is also very necessary to explore what forms of co- operation could be established on the shop floor. This is important, if day-to-day problems of workers are to be dealt with adequately.
Two requirements spring to mind. First is the need for trade union branches to be able to meet on a fairly regular basis. Here working conditions in the Colony have to be taken into account, for example, the long
hours worked are less than conducive to trade union act-
ivity that requires the spending of some of the workers' already limited free time. Secondly, trade unions should employ full-time officials to deal with day-to-day issues. Where financial difficulty arises, individuals could be engaged to serve a number of unions or a number of branches of different unions. Clearly defined procedures that can easily be understood by ordinary workers would have to be adopted where there is servicing of trade unions on a joint or collective basis.
Législation
To achieve the objectives set out above will require con- siderable changes in existing industrial relations legis- lation. At the same time it must be recognised that legis-
lation alone cannot build effective trade unionism. It .
is clear that the government will have to make provision
Continued/...